Progressive overload gains with upper body only (injury)?

CeeBeeSlim

Just to manage my expectations, I know I shouldn't expect the same results if I was doing upper AND lower body (diagnosed with hip impingement syndrome?!?!), but anything I can do to come close? Was soooo excited to start Strong Curves but instructed to stop all lower body until after 6 weeks of p/t. For now, i just plan on doing a progressive overload upper body routine. http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/the-muscle-building-workout-routine/

not_a_runner

Your lower body work doesn't really have any carry over to upper body work. (Squats are not really going to make me stronger at bench press.) I would expect upper body to progress just as it would had you been doing it with lower body work.

kshama2001

I have knee and lower back issues and have yet to work out a lower body routine that includes weights. I do Chest & Shoulders one day and at least two days later do Back & Triceps. Some weeks I hit the gym twice and some three times.

Interestingly, I haven't done Sun Salutions in my yoga practice for quite some time and when I did them this week was much stronger than I expected, which I attribute to actually having progressed in upper body now that I am doing this split and using higher weights/lower reps.

CeeBeeSlim

@TresaAswegan Thanks! I think I could be clearer. Because I hear so much about how squats are king and deadlifts are terrific - not just for lower body but for all over - there doesn't seem to be upper body moves that have the same impact? Or are there? In short, if I wanted to get to rid of fat, and lift heavy, i could still reach those goals doing lower body, but not so much upper body. Is that clearer?

not_a_runner

Squats and deadlifts are great compound movements and they do involve many muscles (and larger muscles than those in the upper body), but they are mainly working your lower body. You aren't going to improve your arms/shoulders just by doing squats and deads. Ideally you would work both upper and lower body, so you can maintain or build muscle all over. Upper body also has some big movements, such as rowing and overhead pressing.
If you want to get rid of fat, focus on your intake. You could squat all day long and not lose any fat if your calories aren't in check.